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triviareads · 6 months

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Any good marriage for convenience romance books?

I actually had a hard time with this one because there are so many historicals where the marriage is convenient for one party, or like, convenient in that otherwise she'll be "ruined" or she's possibly pregnant. But here are some of the ones where both parties agree to marry without any (or much) external pressure:

Historical:

Convergence of Desire by Felicity Niven: Harry wants to devote her energies to proving Fermat's Theorem (which I now know way too much about) rather than being out in society, and Thomas needs a rich wife, so they decide to marry and Harry even says he can sleep with whoever after they marry..... unfortunately this man is only able to get it up for her soon enough.

Fiona and the Enigmatic Earl by Grace Callaway: Fiona wants to be free to continue her work as a member of an investigative agency, Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels, and Hawk wants to marry but without any emotional entanglements and to continue his spy work, so they agree to a marriage of convenience where neither party will hinder the other.

How the Wallflower was Won by Eva Leigh: After fucking up his sister and best friend's (DOM MFING KILBURN) marriage, Finn needs to marry or he'll be cut off, and Tabitha wants to join an influential intellectual society that only admits married women, and so marriage it is.

The Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan: Kind of a marriage of convenience? Except the terms aren't laid out super clearly beforehand and Clara's brother does have a hand in the marriage, but this one is too funny to not include. Clara lies about being pregnant to escape marriage to an asshole, but when she's sent to Scotland, she meets Hunt, a laird who has a generational curse on him which means he will die before his heir is born. So Hunt decides to marry her because she's pregnant with someone else's baby so obviously, he won't die!

Except, well, it's a lie, and he finishes inside her multiple times after they're married so........

The Beast of Beswick by Amalie Howard: Astrid proposes marriage to Thane, a scarred misanthrope duke, so that her sister can escape marriage to the man who ruined Astrid's reputation. Thane eventually agrees because he's intensely attracted to her but has no intention of falling in love with her.

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare: Another scarred duke, this time in want of a wife that won't faint when she sees him so he can begat heirs; Emma is the seamstress who made his former fiancée's wedding dress and shows up for payment, but Ashbury decides she'll do just fine as a wife.

Worth Any Price Lisa Kleypas: The only male virgin in Kleypas-verse (well at least in the beginning), Nick Gentry is tasked with finding Charlotte on behalf of her family and fiancé, but it turns out the fiancé is, among other things, deffo a groomer so he agrees to marry her to protect her.

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas: You know the deal with this one; St. Vincent needs to marry a rich heiress since he's about to be cut off and his attempted kidnapping of Lillian failed miserably, and Evie needs to escape her abusive relatives, so off to Gretna Green it is.

Contemporary:

Lush Money by Angelina M Lopez: Prince Mateo agrees to marry billionaire Roxanne and have sex with her three nights a month so she can have a kid in exchange for money for his impoverished country. The resentment in this man is real, not that it stops him from calling her mi mujer and jumping her every 10 seconds. Basically, the only wife guy I condone.

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey: Natalie and August agree to marry so Natalie can access start-up capital and August can improve his shoddy vineyards. I really loved August's (objectively dumb) no-PiV-sex-until-she-won't-regret-it rule because it actually made the wedding night kinda great, and it also drew out tension until they had no choice but to admit their feelings for one another.

The Harlequin fave Jackie Ashenden very helpfully made a page on her website devoted to all her marriage of convenience books, and yes, I recommend all of them.

Crowning His Lost Princess by Caitlin Crews: Warlord touches down in a Kansas (?) field and announces that this farmer gal was switched at birth, is actually a princess, and that they must marry for political reasons.

Trust Fund Fiancé by Naima Simone: Reagan needs access to her inheritance and proposes a marriage of convenience to her friend Zeke in order to gain access. This one is also technically friends-to-lovers but a really well done one.

*tbh your best bet in terms of modern marriages of conveniences might be harlequins because the stakes feel somewhat high and the tension is real, unlike a lot of contemporary romances which have people marrying to like, inherit a family ski resort or something.

#historical romance #contemporary romance #romance novels #ask #book recs #caitlin crews #jackie ashenden #naima simone #tessa bailey #angelina m lopez #lisa kleypas #tessa dare #amalie howard #sophie jordan #eva leigh #grace callaway #felicity niven

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jomiddlemarch · 1 year

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bright young women

“So, as you and I are hazelnuts and rye, managing the treaty shan’t be any great shakes, no matter what Kristoff says about the need for unanimity among the thanes, that’s just his troll heritage talking, they can be so dreadfully dark, you can’t imagine,” Anna, the Queen of Arendelle and wife to Kristoff, Lord Tyholmen, said in a cheerfully airy fashion that suggested Eric would completely understand her and be in total agreement. Ariel was halfway across the banqueting room, quite engrossed in her own conversation with the Queen’s sister, and thus couldn’t possibly help Eric out of what might become an international debacle.

“Ma’am?”

It was best to be careful, the diplomatic relationship between his home and Arendelle quite new and therefore tenuous, the chance of saying or doing something the northerners would find offensive elevated, despite the Queen’s bright smile and almost casual posture; she was dressed very formally, her chestnut hair elaborately braided and bejeweled. It would be rude to tell her directly that she wasn’t making any sense whatsoever.

“I haven’t said something wrong, have I? I only thought we, you and I, we might simplify the situation, between us if you will, and then we all might enjoy the festivities more and you must try the chocolate laskiaispulla, they usually have vanilla cream but the pastry chef does indulge me,” she said, the words all in a rush and a little furrow appearing on her brow. Ariel had a similar expression when confronted with aspects of human culture she found baffling, though not all were as delightful to explain to her as garters and the difference between the actual silk ribbons and the courtly Order thereof.

“I’m afraid I am not exactly following you, ma’am,” he said. The furrow grew deeper. Her tall and somewhat burly husband glanced over at them as if he had a preternatural sense that his wife was in some distress and he was deciding whether he needed to intervene. Eric inclined his head in a noticeable show of deference and the other man turned back to his own conversation with Grimsby and a senior trade official Eric always referred to as Minister Moneybags when recounting dull meetings with Ariel.

“Won’t you call me Anna? Ma’am is so dreadfully solemn. Fusty. It makes me feel older than the hills and twice as crotchety.”

Eric refrained from asking how hills could ever be crotchety, as he was beginning to get a sense of her rather exuberant self-expression. His own mother would have frowned such frivolity out of him if he’d shown any sign of it as a child.

“You are the queen,” Eric said. “It would be improper for me to be so discourteous—”

“But surely it’s not discourteous if I’ve invited you to call me Anna,” she countered quickly. “Surely it’s more discourteous to refuse to call the reigning monarch of the country with whom you are trying to broker a comprehensive trade and cultural exchange treaty the name she insists upon. Especially she is a queen and you are still the heir-apparent to your monarch.”

“If you insist,” he said, nodding slightly. “Anna, I cannot say I’ve understood a word you’ve said starting with hazelnuts.”

“Hazelnuts and rye? Ginger biscuit and mead?” Anna said.

“Is this part of the evening’s menu?” Eric hazarded. It wouldn’t make her earlier remark make any more sense but they were miles away from that.

“Yin and yang? That’s from Cathay, though, you mayn’t have come across them yet in your travels,” Anna said.

“I am familiar with the empire,” Eric said. “But not the phrase.”

“It means opposite forces that are bound together in balance,” Anna explained. “That’s you and me.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You don’t beg, you’re a prince,” Anna corrected. “But I am making a hash of this, aren’t I?”

“I will decline to comment,” Eric said and smiled.

“You said that with such a perfect degree of regal aplomb, it’s really impressive. You’ve been very well-trained to be a king, I can tell,” Anna said. “Me, not so much, I’m afraid. But that’s what I’m talking about, how we’re hazelnuts and rye— you lost your parents in a shipwreck and so did I, except losing yours made you a king where you never would have been one and losing mine just happened earlier than anyone would have expected and I wouldn’t have been the queen except for Elsa turning out to be otherwise disposed.”

Otherwise disposed was a curious way of summarizing the discovery that her sister and queen was in large part or entirely a supernatural being who held the ethereal powers governing this region of the world in check, if Eric had understood General Mattias properly, but it was frankly not the most intriguing comment she had made.

“I’m not sure how that makes us opposite forces in balance,” Eric said.

“Well, we’ve both suffered and ascended because of shipwrecks, so there’s that,” Anna said. She paused and cocked her head to one side, then tapped one beringed finger on her lips. If they both weren’t happily married, she would have set matchmakers talking across the globe, but as it was, she only appeared perplexed, much the way Ariel was when confronted with a draisienne. “You may be right that the parallel doesn’t entirely hold, but you know what it is to lose the people you love most to forces you couldn’t begin to hold accountable. To be left behind and then left to carry on and lead everyone, when maybe you just wanted to do something else entirely. Maybe you wanted to become a cheesemonger and I could have become a dentist.”

“I can assure you, I never longed to become a cheesemonger,” Eric said. He’d never thought to have such a conversation, touching upon the deepest grief of his life while also entertaining an alternate future where he’d had a dairy and was an expert on Cheddar and Nagelkass.

“It’s fun to say though, isn’t it? Cheesemonger. Fishmonger too, but cheese is more fun than fish and no one gets hurt, which is probably more relevant to you now given Lady Ariel’s childhood friends,” Anna said. She swirled the wine around in the glass she held. She’d hardly had a sip the whole time; nothing she said could be chalked up to tipsiness.

“If you’ll forgive me, this is the most peculiar conversation, Anna,” Eric said.

She grinned at him then and he suspected that if she hadn’t been holding the wineglass, she would have clapped her hands most gleefully.

“That’s what I mean! That’s why at the end of the day, we’ll let all the diplomats and stuff old thanes and avocats fuss with the documents, but we’ll sign them and it’ll be a bright tomorrow for our two nations and you can tell me how you’ve coped with the fact that your first parents died in a storm that Lady Ariel’s father had to be responsible for and you got adopted by a king and queen instead of rock trolls like Kristoff did or just an ordinary couple and also whether breadfruit is more like bread or fruit and whether it’s better than both and also chocolate,” Anna said.

“Also chocolate?” He saw how she centered the most important and painful remark within giddy charm, allowing him to hear her while giving him an easy question to answer. Giving him time to mull over what she’d said and come back to it how and when and if he would. It would not do to underestimate her leadership, nor the value of her friendship.

“Whether breadfruit is better than bread, fruit, and chocolate. I mean it’s impossible that it’s better than chocolate but I need to keep an open mind and Kristoff will scold me if I don’t, well, he won’t scold but he’ll give me this serious look he has and I’ll feel all wizened, like a turnip forgotten in the root cellar,” Anna said. Eric thought briefly of what his mother Queen Selina was like in her private sitting room and what little he knew of Ariel’s sisters and was confident that there was no reigning queen like Anna I of Arendelle. And that was without considering the rock troll relations, though it seems she’d married into them and he grasped how little control or influence one could have over or with one’s in-laws.

“Chocolate is better than breadfruit, let’s begin there,” Eric said. “I hope we can both sign the treaty, that they don’t all muck it up, because I’d very much like to be in league with you, Queen Anna, well before I become King Eric Janus II.”

“Eric Janus II?” Now, she scrunched up her face as if he’d told her turnips and breadfruit would replace all the world’s supply of chocolate.

“Yes, I know,” Eric said. “It’s a lot. I have to add Klaas and Amaury and Bohemond when I ascend the throne.”

“That’s a mouthful,” Anna said. “Unless it sounds better in your native language—”

“It doesn’t,” Eric said.

“I’ll call you nothing but Eric then, if you prefer it,” Anna offered as her broad-shouldered, blond husband joined them, giving her a glance Eric would not have recognized before his own marriage, one that questioned and chided in equal measure, one Ariel was wont to give him when he cautioned her about swimming alongside their ship or staying up late to read to what she said was only the end of the chapter.

“You needn’t glare, Kristoff, the Prince and I understand each other perfectly,” Anna said. “Your precious treaty isn’t in any danger. Quite the contrary—”

“It’s not my precious treaty and I wasn’t glaring,” he said. He seemed ill-at-ease in his uniform in the grandly appointed room as he hadn’t when they’d gone out for a drive into the royal parkland and woods, his fine silks and velvets traded for a well-worn leather coat and a dusty pair of boots, a red kerchief knotted at his throat. “The ambassadors and the diplomatic corps from both nations have been working to deliver an agreement mutually beneficial, with particular attention to the ramifications of an allegiance and the power balance of the Silver Crescent.”

“I beg you not to explain about the judicial reforms going before the council and the need for a winter by-election. I positively beg you,” Anna said, taking her husband’s hand, and then smiling at Eric. “Kristoff, Lord Tyholmen that is, has very strong convictions about necessary modifications to the monarchy and the guildsmen but there’s a time and place and the dancing is about to begin.”

“Then, if you would grant me the great favor, I would be honored to open the first waltz with you, Anna,” Eric said, bowing smartly and extending his hand.

“Drat, I was supposed to ask you and not sidle around it. I wasn’t purposefully sidling,” Anna said. Kristoff smiled and lifted her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles. “Kristoff, you know we’ll have the lihkadus and the last waltz—”

“I’m not upset, Anna,” Kristoff said. “And I don’t think Prince Eric is either, even if he isn’t dancing with Lady Ariel at the moment.”

“Lord Tyholmen is correct,” Eric said. “I understood—you and I, Anna, we’re bake and shark, ackee and saltfish, aren’t we?”

“I suppose we must be,” Anna said. “Though I’ll need a complete explanation and that will include whether I am the bake or the shark. I hardly know which is more daunting! Perhaps I should ask Lady Ariel—"

“It’s always the shark, Anna,” Kristoff said, winking at Eric. “You don’t need to be a mermaid to know that.”

#the little mermaid 2023 #frozen 2 #the little mermaid x frozen 2 AU crossover #disney crossover AU #prince eric #queen anna #kristoff #ariel #elsa #kristanna #ariel/eric #shipwrecks #orphans #diplomatic relations #humor #romance #fericita-s #working in some of my headcanons #family

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pheita · 1 year

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Yay more drabbles. And you infected me with semi public sex. It is all your fault. but this still on the sfw side On the other side, the song is to blame as well. So have some "Thane is some rich guy and Aleena still an escort" AU

Thane straightened his shirt collar. It wasn't the first time he'd paid an escort, but this one made him nervous in the most arousing way, even though he usually only paid the women to accompany him to some boring event, but with this one, the mayor's charity evening became secondary. "I make you nervous," she smirked over the rim of her champagne glass. "That flamboyant?" "I have to be able to read people in my job, so you learn to spot that kind of thing." He turned a little more toward her and grinned broadly. "So, Moira…." "Yes?" Her blue eyes sparkled cheekily and Thane was almost tempted to push that wild curly strand that had come loose from her hairstyle behind her ear, but instead he rested his arms on the bar table in front of him and leaned forward. "You like your job, don't you?" "It has its perks." "What are those?" "Events like this?" "And other than that?" She emptied the glass, set it down without looking on the tray of the waiter who was walking past them and pulled off a glove. He'd been wondering why she wore gloves. Gently, her fingertips landed on the back of his hand. The contact was just a mere whisper, gentle as a feather, but he immediately sensed the familiar energies of another mystical being. He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "How do you know?" "I felt your energy when we first met." "So Moira is one of your names?" "Maybe?" she grinned. With a naughty grin, she winked at him and left the table. On impulse, Thane followed her and found her in a small hallway, slightly off to the side so they wouldn't be spotted so quickly. Though she was a head shorter than him, she pushed him against the wall and stopped with her face just a finger's breadth from his. They both licked their lips. Thane put his hands on her hips and looked at her questioningly. "Are you sure, Moira?" "Aleena." "Huh?" "My real name is Aleena, and yes, I'm sure." He grabbed her head and kissed her greedily, while her hands were already finding their way to his belt.

Normally he paid escorts just to be his companion, but Aleena was not normal. In no way was she. Just the composure with which she had lured him to the side had screamed it at him. His hands wandered from her face to her shoulders and down over her bare back. The plunging neckline of her dress down her back had fascinated him all evening, so perfect the way it ended just above her shapely buttocks, only accentuating it. Her deep laughter stopped Thane for a moment. He looked at her questioningly, but Aleena just grinned, grabbed him by his shirt collar and turned them both so that her back was against the wall. She unfastened one hand and placed it at waist level beside her. Thane was almost tempted to ask what she was up to, then he felt a vibration and remembered that the building was old and probably still built with wooden beams. Confirmation came when a small ledge formed under her butt so she could sit on it comfortably. "How convenient," Thane commented with a crooked grin. Anything else he wanted to say faded away the moment she reached for his erection with her delicate fingers. "Less talking, more fucking." In response, his fingers found their way between her legs. Thane's eyebrows went up as he felt how wet she was. Aleena closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure as his fingers moved lower and penetrated her. Handholds appeared in the wall above her and she held on to them as her legs pulled Thane against her to his amusement. He drove her close to orgasm. Her greedy whimpers drove excitingly through his whole body. The plan to penetrate her gently was gone. He felt the fox inside him awaken, out of his control for the first time in years, urging him to fuck her hard and fast against the wall. Aleena moaned loudly, followed by a smile and bucking up. Every thrust Thane made was accompanied by her in a way he could only describe as greedy. He leaned forward, pushed her against the wall, and placed his hands over hers on the handles. Already, almost automatically, her legs pushed him deeper inside her. "Harder…" she sighed softly. Thane growled out. His nose went along her neck, inhaling her scent deeply. The realization of what Aleena was hit him like a blow, then he grinned at her shoulder. "Greedy little nymph." She wanted to say something, but it became unintelligible as he fucked her as hard and fast as he could until she was just a whimpering, moaning mess wedged between him and the wall. Thane kissed her to keep them both quiet. Throatily he laughed into the kiss as she was greedy even as he did so. Deep thrusts pumped into her as he came. The fox in him satisfied, lay back to rest. Gasping, Thane watched her. Aleena giggled, but needed a moment to get her eyes open again. "That felt good." "It did," Thane admitted. How they got back to the event now without attracting attention was another question. She seemed to anticipate the question as she jumped off the created ledge and made it all disappear again as if it had never been there. Her fingers brushed his wrist, but this time it was less like a feather, more like a summer breeze. "You ran out of energy." She stopped in mid-motion. Narrowing her eyes, Aleena looked questioningly at Thane. "You can name that?" "Your energy is different now." "Tsk, a fox who can sense energies, to think I can still experience something like that." She kissed him on the cheek and disappeared back toward Event. Thane watched her go and made a mental note to thank Constantine for his training the next day.

#writblr #writing #flowers of fire #spotify drabbles #rich guy au

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drelldreams · 1 year

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me4 wishlist:

- unreal 5 engine

- bigger hubs. i wanna be able to go inside a shopping mall on illium or on the citadel for real. let me see all that alien fashion and the gadgets of different species. i would even be thrilled to just be able to enter a grocery store and see all the alien foods.

- ability to buy clothes from malls or foods (just for fun) from grocery stores

- also the option to visit a hairdresser and get a new haircut, to get tattoos at the tattoo parlor, or maybe different make up at a beauty salon

- baby, children and teen npc‘s. the lack of children in mass effect takes away the realism. you‘d think there would be kids on the citadel or on illium.. adding kids would make the gaming experience seem much more realistic.

- more diversity in outfits for npc‘s. it would be so cool to see some actual unique alien fashion in the game rather than just that boring standard suit for men of all races whether krogan, salarian, turian, human and that standard dress for all the asari and human women. plus humans need more diversity in hairstyles no way they‘ve all got the same 5 haircuts in the 22nd century

- getting to see more of thessia. i wanna be able to walk through town in thessia on a sunny day, no reapers.

- a palaven & kahje hub and missions on those planets

- i genuinely wanna see the vorcha, volus, and elcor homeworlds heshtok, irune and dekuuna too

- a vorcha character that isn‘t a primitive brute but has an actual personality and morals

- new species! please let us see some of those species from the terminus system apparently there are dozens others aside the yahg, lystheni, drell that are relatively unknown as well, and they‘re never mentioned by name in the game.

- more of the rachni if you saved them

- squadmates roaming around the ship and the hubs

- option to send squadmates on strike missions. assign a squad leader that leads a small squad while you are working on something else with your squad.

- be able to take more than two squadmates with you

- ability to play an alien

- multiplayer version

- an abundance of lesbian and gay romance options. don‘t do the squadmates in me4 dirty like thane, jack and miranda who were supposed to be bi, but were changed to be straight

#mass effect 4 #mass effect 4 wishlist #me4 #musings

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primordialrp · 1 year

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WHO WE ARE...

PRIMORDIALRP is an original character RP set in the fictional town of Olympus –a place that has always been home to outlaws, criminals, gangs, and most importantly, the Primordial MC. Set ten years after the events in LOMKRP with some plot adjustments, we are a semi-closed, plot heavy writing group welcoming characters that can be easily integrated into the current plot! More about our plot can be found HERE.

CURRENTLY...

Rhea Thane is turning 77! The birthday of the long-time matriarch of the Thane family and the Primordial MC itself is something to be celebrated, and the best way to celebrate “Ma” is of course with a potluck party at the clubhouse. The MC and friends of the MC have all been invited, so long as they bring a dish to share and good spirits. Beer, of course, counts as a dish and the dress code is leather.

More information about the event can be found HERE.

INTERESTED IN JOINING?

We’re a semi-closed group, meaning we don’t take traditional applications nor do we have a formal application form or acceptance days! Most members have been referred to the group by existing members to keep the group small and ensure all muses fit into the plot dynamic, making sure every member and muse feels well infused into the group. That said, if you’ve happened to just stumble upon our little group and are super interested in joining/think your muse fits perfectly into the plot here, we welcome you! Just fill out THIS FORM and send it to our SUBMIT BOX and we’ll be in touch!

*If you’re a current member looking to refer us to a friend who wants to join, just fill out THIS FORM.

Character ideas we are looking for: sirens, prospects, MC members (specifically women!), former Trojans, law enforcement that’s good with the club, children of older members. Definitions for some of these terms can be found HERE.

#primordial:pinned

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spookyvalentine · 2 years

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Oh my god I forgot to check to see if you’ve already answered any. so the new ones; 5, 18, 42, 44

no worries my friend!! you bless me with opportunity

5. How well does Shepard know their crew? Not just the companions, but the folks making up the Normandy

starting before me1, some nights you’d see the commander drinking (usually tea, sometimes somethin stronger) putting together jigsaw puzzles, and folks will join them. It can be quiet, private, real late night two heads bent over colored tiles trying to find the right words to fit together or there’ll be a rowdy crowd drunkenly cheering and jeering over the table. it becomes the puzzle table and sometimes crew will add a piece as they walk by. and it becomes a little bit like office hours. everyone knows shepard is always very available, but sometimes it’s hard or intimidating to approach the tall golden commander and stop them. this makes it easier for crew to approach them to ask about things or seek advice when the commander is dressed down in sweatpants and fuzzy socks lounged at the table eating gummy worms. they know the crew by name. knows about their families, interests, allergies. adams hangs the finished pieces all over the ship :’)

with the start of me2 mercy is pretty pissed off about being stuck on a cerberus ship. they don’t want to do puzzle office hours. however, it is important to them that they know exactly who is on their ship. they do a lot of data diving—they know names, families and allergies, but because they read about it, not told through conversation. after some skyllian five with gabby and ken, mercy starts to occasionally join the crew for a mean game, to listen to gossip, catch up on drama. burt doesn’t not last long on the ship, mercy makes sure he’s fired quickly after hearing women say he makes them uncomfortable. they spend more time with companions on this version of the Normandy, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t pissed when the collectors take their crew

In me3, they’re just so busy. countless people demanding their time and attention. this is the time shepard is at their least accessible for the crew, but they know everyone’s name. if you’re up early, and i mean early, you can find shepard on the yoga mat and share a practice with them, have a chat on the way to breakfast

18. Who’s the dream team? Which companions does Shepard fight best with and why?

I’m gonna be lazy on my own questions and just give a speedrun answer 🙈

me1: tali wrex kaidan

me2: kasumi thane samara jack grunt

me3: vega edi tali javik

kasumi and mercy fight together unsettlingly well and are total gremlins about it. you can hear them laughing as they fight

thane, too. fighting with him is like dancing

42. Favorite weapon?

something that drives a lot of companions a little bananas is that they have only one gun. mercy “I don’t run out of bullets” shepard

it’s a heavily modded phalanx. It’s original base was the gun that got them through akuze. if mercy’s using their gun, it’s usually just one bullet a person

they’re a sentinel, so they’ve got both tech and biotic abilities to fall back on. they are a fan of grenades though

44. Do they like to rotate out companions for quests? Who do they bring the most?

honestly sometimes i think they’ll put handicaps on teammates to make them rely on each other if they’ve been annoying mercy with their infighting and call it a training exercise

they rotate people out a lot. big believer in adaptability with an emphasis on strategy, like will picking companions based on who they’ll be fighting or the terrain/location, if they want to go in quiet or full of big booms

that being said in 1 they brought wrex around a lot because they thought he was funny as hell and has their six, in 2 kasumi came a lot because shit they hadn’t seen their best friend in ten years, thane because he’s extremely useful in a fight that’s the only reason it’s not that he is captivating, deadly grace in action, why would you say that. In 3 vega is around a lot also because he’s funny as hell and a sturdy fighter. javik because the dude is fascinating and his powers are rad

fifty questions for commander shepard

#thank you for the asks!!#ahh I wrote the questions without thinking I might have to answer them and I’m like fuck but all these are hard and involved answers 🤡#god I’m so in love with them someone call 911 #oc: mercy shepard #themshep #commander shepard #mass effect

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nurvinaari1 · 7 months

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Winter Wellness: Essential Tips for Pregnant Women

Introduction

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey filled with unique experiences and physical changes. However, as the seasons change, the challenges that pregnant women face can also evolve. Winter, with its cold weather and dry air, requires special care to ensure the health and comfort of both the mother and the baby. Dr. Sujata Rathod, a gynecologist in Meadows, Thane is here to provide essential tips for pregnant women to take care of themselves during the winter months.

Stay Warm and Layer Up

Pregnant women are more susceptible to cold weather. The body is already working hard to support the growing baby, and maintaining core body temperature can become challenging. Dressing in layers can help regulate your body temperature. Opt for cozy, warm clothing and make sure to cover extremities like hands and feet to prevent heat loss.

Keep Hydrated

Winter air tends to be dry, and this can lead to dehydration, which is particularly dangerous during pregnancy. Dehydration can cause preterm labor and contractions. Ensure you drink plenty of water throughout the day and consider investing in a humidifier for your home to add moisture to the air.

Maintain a Balanced Diet

A well-balanced diet is crucial during pregnancy, especially in winter when cravings for comfort food are high. Ensure you incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your meals. These foods provide essential nutrients for your baby's development and your overall well-being.

Protect Your Skin

The cold, dry air can take a toll on your skin, making it dry and itchy. To prevent this, use a good moisturizer and lip balm to keep your skin and lips hydrated. Choose products that are safe for pregnancy and contain no harmful chemicals. Don't forget to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays, as they can still be potent even in winter.

Exercise Safely

Maintaining a regular exercise routine is vital during pregnancy, but be cautious when working out in the cold. Choose indoor activities like prenatal yoga, swimming, or gym workouts to stay active. If you do go outside, ensure you are well-dressed and avoid strenuous activities in extremely cold weather.

Rest and Sleep

Pregnancy is a time when your body needs extra rest and sleep. In the winter, when daylight is shorter, it can be challenging to maintain your energy levels. Make time for naps and ensure you get a good night's sleep. A well-rested body is better equipped to handle the physical demands of pregnancy.

Avoid Illness

Pregnant women are more susceptible to illnesses, and winter is the season of colds and flu. To avoid falling ill, practice good hygiene, wash your hands frequently, and consider getting a flu shot if recommended by your healthcare provider. Always consult your gynecologist in Majiwada, Thane before taking any medications, even over-the-counter ones.

Manage Stress

Pregnancy can be a stressful time, and winter's shorter days and holiday pressures can add to the stress. It's important to find healthy ways to manage stress, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or prenatal massages. A relaxed mind and body are better for you and your baby.

Conclusion

Pregnancy during winter can be challenging, but with proper care and attention, you can make it a safe and comfortable experience. Dr. Sujata Rathod recommends these essential tips to help pregnant women take care of themselves and their unborn babies during the colder months. By staying warm, hydrated, and well-nourished, you can ensure a happy and healthy pregnancy, bringing your little one into the world with love and care.

#gynecologisthiranandani #maternityhospitalthane #gynacologistinthane #drsujatarathod #nurvinaari

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cinecitystudio · 8 months

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Latest Trends in Maternity Photoshoot

Just a few decades ago, it was uncommon for women to have their pregnancy photographed. There were social taboos surrounding the idea of photographing pregnant women, and it was primarily viewed as a formal affair with no space for spontaneity. However, things have changed for the better, and more and more women are embracing the idea of capturing their pregnancy through photographs.

A maternity shoot takes place in the 7th or rarely 8th month of pregnancy, as it is one of the most comfortable times for the mother to prepare for a professional photo shoot. In this time, the mother will look and feel more confident about her appearance, and the shape of the belly would be just perfect for an inspiring picture.

In the last post, on The Growing Popularity of Maternity Photography we discussed the reasons Why Maternity Photography is a Growing Trend. This post talks about the latest trends in Maternity photo shoot.

Maternity Shoots in the Studio

Location is one of the most important aspects for a great shoot. Maternity photoshoot in the outdoor locations is a bit challenging task. That’s why trend of shooting maternity photography in the specially designed open-air studios is picking up now-a-days. There are studio locations available which are equipped with everything that is required for a shoot – multiple themed sets, props, make-up rooms, washrooms, support staff and what not. One such trending studio is Cine City, which is located at Bhiwandi, at an hours’ distance from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. Cine City has 35+ beautifully designed sets and backdrops. Check out their insta page or website https://www.cinecitystudio.com for more details.

Professional Photography

Hiring a professional photographer is the key element for any shoot. While choosing a photographer, it is important to ensure that the photographer knows the job well. Discuss your preferences, ideas, and expectations with your photographer beforehand. This will help them understand your vision and capture the shots you desire.

Cinematic Video

As it is well said- photo is a frozen moment, whereas video is a live moment. Hence, along with maternity photography, Cinematic video shoot trends now-a-days. For cinematic video production scriptwriting, storyboard creation, scene composition, shooting, editing, and post-production tasks are done. Moreover, with the increased social media usage, people also prefer shooting reels and short videos.

AI-generated Video: A New Realm

AI-generated video production is the process of creating videos using artificial intelligence. In this method, various AI technologies are used to automate different aspects of video production. AI generated video production is a future trend and people are excited to get their AI-generated maternity shoots.

Maternity Dresses

As the outfits plays crucial role in every shoot, hiring Maternity Gowns for the shoot is also very common. Ruffle gowns, tail gowns and ball gowns are often rented. There are many rental dress providers from where you can rent out such gowns. Cine City studio also has a wide collection of such dresses which you can rent out at the studio itself.

Other dressing themes can be casuals, couple t-shirts (with the text like Pink or Blue, Mommy Loves You), white-on-white dressing theme or some traditional look like saree and basic kurta pyjama.

Maternity Props

Props are also important element for the shoot and there are many maternity props one can use. It can be a slate with some writing like Boy or Girl?, Mom-to-be sash, Baby Shoes, Baby Dress, Danglers, Sun board Sheets with some message, etc. One can either purchase or rent out props. As an offering, Cine City provides maternity props in their package itself.

Showcasing Sonograms

Many couples prefer to show off the sonogram snap of their baby in the maternity photo shoot. The sonogram will be mindfully placed on top of the belly signifying the arrival of the baby. It’s really meaningful and touching as sonogram is the actual image of their baby.

The Gift

Tying a ribbon around the belly and stating that the baby is a gift from heaven is one particular trend that does not fade away with time. It is a way to signify that the gift should not be opened until its due date.

In essence, Maternity photography has become a growing trend as women embrace the beauty of their changing bodies and the new life growing inside them. Through photographs, women can celebrate the fact that motherhood begins long before a baby is born. It is a way to capture the joy and anticipation of the arrival of a new family member. With the latest trends in maternity photography, women can choose from a wide range of options to make their photo shoots unique and unforgettable.

#maternityshootlocations #maternityphotography #maternityshoot #film photography #sunset #photographers on tumblr #wife material

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cjselbybooks · 1 year

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Lyonirian Customs

Succession Rights

Succession in Lyonir- from the throne to the thanes- is based purely on birth order of the heirs with no preference given to male heirs.

ex: If there are four children in a household and the order of birth is boy, girl, girl, boy, the eldest would be the heir and if he died without heirs of his own, it would go to the second born, a girl, rather than skipping over the middle girls to the younger son.

Rank in Lyonir (From most to least prestigious)

King/Queen

Prince/Princess

Vardyn (of the North, East, or West): though this is usually a conjunctive title

Jarl

Thane

Knight of the Realm (indicated by Ser as their honorific)

All women of the court are referred to as Fryn “Given name” whether or not they qualify for a title either due to inheritance or marriage.

Birth

Birth is viewed as a blessed process and act given from Life themself. It is both a private affair- the actual birth consisting of only the parents and the midwives- and a family one- the family on both sides usually is in close support.

The child is usually named, blessed, and then nine days later an offering is given to Life in honor of the new addition to the family.

Names are influenced by culture- most Lyonirians marrying outside of their own culture in an attempt to gain further assurances of peace across the continent- as well as familial names. To name a child after another person is a great honor.

Arm Rings

Arm rings are a status symbol of those that have sworn fealty and service to the sovereign. It is most commonly given to knights, but it is not unheard of for thanes and jarls to also have arm rings.

Any oath sworn on an arm ring is legally binding and considered sacred. If one swears on their arm ring and then breaks that sworn oath, the penalty can be severe.

Marriage

Marriage- like swearing fealty during a knighthood/arm ring ceremony- is a pact before Gods and men both. It entails fidelity, mutual protection, and usually- but not always- love.

In Lyonirian culture, there are no prohibitions surrounding marriage, though it has become more typical for heterosexual marriages to be arranged due to the need for repopulation after the Anarchial Period. Without parental consent- though it is still tradition to ask the permission of the parents of your intended- the legal age for marriage is twenty, the age of majority. With parental consent, the age is no younger than eighteen since the sealing of the marriage pact entails the consummation of the marriage.

Engagements are marked by written agreements, exchange of part of the dowries- both parties giving something to the other family that they will soon be part of- and the couple being handfasted.

Marriages can be performed at any time and at any place that a cleric can be found since marriage falls under the joint patronage of Life and Death since it is part of the natural progress of life. During the ceremony the couple pledge themselves to one another on equal footing, promising to love and respect each other of their own free will.

Besides the married couple, usually both of the families are present and at least one person will stand with either half of the couple (maid of honor, best man-type roles). Typically, both members of the couple are dressed in white or fair colors such as dove grey, yellow, or blue. The companions wear colors that are representative of the person they are standing with- so if their family is associated with a particular color (nobility) or that person’s favorite color (common people).

The companions of the couple- as well as the family members- usually spend the three days before the wedding in each other’s company. Men or masculine presenting halves of the couple usually prepare for the ceremony with their companions as well as their fathers and brothers. This includes their bathing ritual and a ceremonial presentation of the family cloak and sword. Women or feminine presenting halves of the couple usually prepare for the ceremony with their companions as well as their mothers and sisters. This includes their bathing ritual, preparations where the female members of the family braid good intentions into the person’s hair, and a dressing ceremony.

Death

Death is viewed like any other natural transformation of life. It is the “final” transformation and is the send-off for those to go to the Halls of the Dead. Death by natural cause is seen as a completion of the natural progress to life. Death by any other cause- except by combat when it is honorable- is seen as an affront the laws of the natural world and the Gods.

Bodies are cleansed, prepared for the parting ceremony, and then burned according to Lyonirian culture. Important national figures may have a stele built in their honor, but usually the pyre ashes are spread either in the forest or a nearby body of water such as the ocean or a lake.

#officialthekingschampion #the king's champion #fantasy literature #fantasy lit #queer fantasy #queer literature #queer lit #young adult literature #ya lit #new adult literature #na lit #lore drop

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kulvadhufashiondesigner01 · 2 months

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Importance Of Women Boutique For Designing Stylish Clothes

The women's fashion industry is huge, and the Women Boutiques In Thane is involved in providing everyone with excellent quality customized women's clothing options. Today, here we are going to shed some light on the importance of women's boutiques for designing stylish clothes.

Curated Selection: Women's boutiques curate their collections carefully, offering a handpicked selection of clothing items that are on-trend, high-quality, and fashion-forward. This curated approach ensures that customers have access to a distinctive range of stylish options that may not be readily available in mass-market stores.

Unique Styles: Boutique clothing often features exclusive designs and styles that set them apart from mainstream fashion retailers. This exclusivity allows shoppers to express their individuality and personal style through distinctive clothing pieces that are not commonly found elsewhere.

Personalized Shopping Experience: Women's boutiques prioritize providing personalized customer service, offering a more intimate and tailored shopping experience compared to larger retail chains. Boutique staff often offer style advice, assistance with outfit coordination, and personalized recommendations based on individual preferences, ensuring that customers feel valued and attended to during their shopping experience.

High-Quality Materials and Craftsmanship: Boutique clothing is often crafted from high-quality materials with meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship. This focus on quality ensures that the clothing items not only look stylish but also feel comfortable and durable, providing long-lasting value to customers.

We are one of the top names for making trendy Women's Dresses In Thane. If you wish to design your clothes, then you can connect with us.

About Kulvadhu Fashion

The boutique offers a wide range of ready-made as well as self-designed clothing options. The team, which is working with them always assures that everything is done as per the fitting and clothing style of the client. If you or anyone you might know is searching for the best boutique for designer clothes, then we are here at your service.

Credit:- https://penzu.com/p/769cf06f7a9bd183

#Women Boutiques In Thane #W #omen Dresses In Thane

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a-shakespearean-in-paris · 3 years

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The Inquisitor’s Throne

I wrote this and realized it fits in with @14daysdalovers “Midnight Rendezvous” prompt. Cullen and Lydia Trevelyan, NSFW. Piece contains semi public sex, mild dirty talk, oral sex, and clothed sex all on a throne. Please enjoy! Also on A03

Dainty, delicate Inquisitor Lydia Trevelyan they call her. She can certainly play the part, look good in rich silks and swish her hand elegantly when she has to. It’s comes easy to charm a few nobles with carefully placed words, though she only does it if she must. Few deserve her sweet words, and one has them all.

Yet she had a cup, one she carries with her that no one else can see other than those closest to her. Sometimes it overfills. Sometimes it spills, and delicate, dainty Lydia can’t wear the carefully placed mask anymore. These are the times where all she wants is her lover to remind her she was more than some precious doll.

Maker. At Skyhold and past midnight, finally done with wearing the mask at this silly social, she wants him to claw at her, possess her, throw her on his desk of his and mark her. She wants him fucking hard.

Now.

Such primal parts of her sexuality used to frighten her. Tempered and tamed in recent years she found that primordial part of herself could bloom as easily as the part of her that loved with no reservation. Her lover, who inhabited his body like a lion cast spells of his own. He was a remnant of a time forgotten, roughhewn and forged with fire with scars to prove it. His fucking was a sweet restorative, and she craved it all throughout that dinner, all through Lord Farquar’s bitter speeches of fine women and the might of the Inquisition. Beautiful the Lord called her in her long red dress and pulled back hair, golden shoes on her feet. He eyed that silver Andraste at her collar and asked no questions mercifully. He demanded until she yielded, and she would not yield. She’d have no answers anyway. He wouldn’t deserve it if she did.

The great hall was filled earlier, yet now it’s midnight and quiet she slips inside the study Solas once used to frequent. Once Solas would have smirked at her, as he knew she took this route to her lover. Yet with him not there she makes the trip unnoticed, and she remains unnoticed when she opens the door to his office. His back toward her he’s out of his armor with a book in his hand. It’s one of those adventure novels he covets, one she’s picked up to read herself when she far away from him. When she’s away she relishes in the intimacy of reading the same words as he. Her heels click against the stone floor toward him before she wraps her arms around him, embraces him from behind as he dissolves against her, putting the book up on the shelves. She kisses the back of his neck before sinking her teeth there, laving the spot with her tongue. He moans before he turns around, cupping her face in his broad hands.

She looks beautiful, he says, tilting her chin up and kissing her. She certainly didn’t feel as such till he said it, till his arms are around her and she’s encased in his smell. He’s sweat and the sweetness of elderflower, earthy oakmoss and something distinctly man. She feels more woman when he grips her curves, when his stubble scratches her delicate skin.

“Fuck me hard Cullen.”

His answer is a small “oh,” eyes wide. Maker he even blushes and she wants to laugh. He, whose taken her on his desk, who moved the mirror closer to their bed so he may watch her ride him. “Pick me up and take me upstairs,” she whispers as she kisses him once more, his cock growing harder against her. “Tell me I’m yours.”

“Rather take you to your room,” he says, kissing her neck. “Your mirror is there.”

“You’re so proud of how you fill me, aren’t you?” she asks, caressing his neck and lightly scratching her nails, her breath against his ear. “Then take me away.”

She leads him out of his office and into the empty great hall. It’s midnight and no one is about to watch the Commander take the Inquisitor into his arms and into a hot and searing kiss, a prelude to more. He tugs on the sleeve of her dress to pull it down, baring a part of her breast. His lips are warm against her skin as he cradles her back, pressing their bodies together. She hums, wrapping her arms around him, willing and wishing to dissolve.

“Turn around,” he whispers in her ear. She does so for him, wondering what he wants her to look at. All she sees is her large and expansive throne where she sits in judgement, silver moonlight casting blue and purple shadows against it. It is the seat of the high Enchanters’ gilded in gold and adorned with dragons along the side. A fine symbol for her role as Inquisitor, a seat only for her.

Yet she asks “Cullen?” as she strangely doesn’t understand, at least not at first. They’ve been brazen but this would be another matter entirely.

Still, he wraps his arms around her middle, presses his cheek next to hers. He says, “there,” and yes, he would be even more brazen.

She gulps. He’ll rescind, she’s sure, but he nips at her neck and says he wants her spread open there, wants to taste her there. He can’t wait and he’d rather have her elegantly on her throne than in the hallway leading to her room or against the wall. Judging by the way she leans against him, rubbing herself against his hardness, she can’t wait either.

“My dearest,” he says, his arms still around her, a warm hand slipping underneath her dress, touching her breast, and further pulling down the sleeve. It’s such a sweet endearment he says to contrast with such bawdiness. “Haven’t you ever thought of us there?”

“Yes,” she admits, gasping when he takes one of her pert nipples between his fingertips and squeezes gently. “But someone could see.”

“Has that ever mattered?

Fucking no, never. It is the final pull, because yes, she too can be brazen. Turning in his arms she lets him lead her to the throne. She sits there as she always does yet as an empress rather than Inquisitor, and he sinks to his knees, parts her thighs to sit between them. “That’s my girl,” he says as he kisses his way up her leg, Lydia gathering and pulling her red skirts up for him. She stares with unmasked, unashamed lust at his golden head, his scarred mouth open against her calf, moving upward to her knee and thigh. She helps him slide off her undergarment, crimson red like her dress, and when it falls to the ground next to them she makes a mental note to pick it up later lest someone see. She grabs his hair, twists the curls as her legs spread further apart. How many times has she sat on this spot, a crowd of people all staring at her and waiting for her to make a judgement or say something worthwhile. When she takes her lover’s mouth on her throne, his tongue lapping over her clit, she groans quietly, wishing it could be louder, wishing her cries of pleasure could echo through the room so loudly she’ll hear it again the next time she’s here and must remain nothing more than a pretty doll. She’s survived and lived and loved and fucked and it’s Cullen who she loves and fucks and makes her empress of lust, love, and want.

With one slow, sinful press he slides his forefinger inside, then another. She thrusts her hips closer to his face and he takes in her musky scent. She curses and thrashes as he builds on her growing frissons, compelling her to come on his face. With strangled breaths her thighs clamp around his cheeks, coming for him as he crooks his finger inside her. She reels in her residual waves, breathes and pants heavily as she comes back to earth. Hazy as she is however she’s still cognizant enough to push down his breeches and that tunic he’s wearing so’s bare in front of her on her throne. In the spilling moonlight he is baked marble from his time in the sun, silver from where his numerous scars have healed and dusted with golden hair on his chest and lower abdomen leading to his cock. All marble, gold, and silvered radiance, her hands grab his slim hips, her lips leaving kisses on his abdomen. Come take me fair knight, she thinks of saying as she strokes his cock, soft moans so sweet from his parted hips, but she has another idea.

Standing, skirts falling to her feet she throws her arms around his neck, kisses him and moves him over in front of her throne. She leads him down upon it and he smirks as if he’s some proud thane of a great hold. She sits astride him and he holds her ass, grabs it without shame and caresses underneath her cloths so the first thing anyone would see if they entered was the Commander’s hands on his Inquisitor on her throne. She hopes they know he touches her good. If she could she’d wear his love marks like tattoos.

She gathers up her skirts once more as he angles his cock toward her entrance. The skirts cover them as she holds his shoulders for balance, and he wraps his arms around her as she rises and falls and bounces on his cock, keeping her hands on his neck and keeping their eyes locked. He’s deep this way, full and warm and almost too much. But she can take him, take all of him. He never makes her cup spill or overflow.

“You feel good,” he says as his lips meet hers. “That’s my girl. You’re no one’s but mine.”

She told him earlier, tell me I’m yours. “Your mine,” she says in turn. “Cullen…”

“I know, I know…” She gasps as he sticks his hand underneath her cloths. “I love being yours.”

“You fill me up so fucking good…”

He chuckles as she moves, asks him if he ever thought she’d take him here of all places. “Maybe I dreamed of you here,” he says as he nips her neck. Someday they’ll leave this place and if the magic there is a strong as she has been told it is, the walls will imprint the memory of the Commander and Inquisitor fucking sweetly and adoringly, and a thousand years from now her words will still be etched in the stone, Cullen you fuck me so good…

He captures her in a kiss as she comes again on top of him with the beckoning of his fingers against her clit. A piercing cry would alert nearby guards, and as it is they’ve already had too much luck in this moment. They cling and he claws and they hold each other as the only thing that makes sense in the whole world. The way they lock and meet and join is what matters, not the show or the pomp or her mask as Inquisitor. This is real. Them.

He comes in her arms with her name sweetly on his lips. Her thighs ache from the movement, pleasant before yet not burning, and her are legs pressed against the hard stone of the throne. She chuckles when she thinks of how much his bare rear must hurt against it—it hurts her covered rear when she has to sit in judgement for long periods of time. Yet he keeps her in his arms when she tries to remove herself, burying his head in the crook of her neck. His lips are soft where his stubble is roughish, and it strikes her how even though he’s a strong man, a good man, and one that makes her feel safe, he too feels safe when she holds him. They dissolve into each other in their world together crafted in the great hall of the Inquisition.

They kiss when she cups his face in her hands, his lips moving down her neck and toward her exposed breast. He takes her sleeve and brings it back from where he pulled it down as she adjusts herself, removing her hips from him. His spend skims down her thigh and she can’t imagine the tailor in Val Royeux who sewed together such finery would have dared to imagine the Inquisitor using the long skirts it to wipe away her lover’s dripping seed. Reluctantly, she at last removes herself, Cullen hasty as he puts his clothes back on. They laugh and think they’ve won whatever game they decided to play on the way back to her quarters, laugh at their own place where they make the rules. They are unscathed. No one saw, as much as perhaps she wouldn’t have minded if anyone did…

At any rate, round two happens in her quarters, the bed softer on their bodies, their moans no longer stifled. Upon no throne, he makes her an empress still.

****

Cullen tells her the next day when she comes to him in his office that he got a note, blushing as he does. She reopens it at his prompting.

Dear Curly, Fire’s smalls are behind the throne. Might want to get them, though there is at least one Orlesian noble who thought it was kinky. PS: thanks for the inspiration. Shocked I didn’t think of it sooner for Swords and Shields.

“I…forgot my smalls,” she says as she scans the letter, her cheeks going how. “Marvelous.”

Though he blushes too, there is a smile that cracks on his face. “You know, maybe I’ll pick up Swords and Shields.”

“But you already have so many interesting ideas all on your own.”

He laughs before he takes her into his arms.

#smut #lemons #cullen rutherford #cullen x inquisitor #cullen x trevelyan #14dalovers #cullydia #shakeswriting

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zet-sway · 3 years

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@the-wip-project day 63:

Are you more of a drabble/flash or a longfic/novel kind of writer?

I'll answer this question and then I'm going to completely derail to another, totally unrelated topic. Because we all know what I'm going to say.

I'm a oneshot / drabbles / flash fic writer (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

Ok now I'm gonna talk about my Shepard's self-presentation and relationship with femininity.

I'm very inexperienced at character creation, so any time I make a new "discovery" about one of my characters, it's a really big deal to me!!!!

I was thinking about this - growing up on military or military adjacent ships, the women she looked up to were probably all kinds of different from the women on magazine covers. I'm sure she saw lots of ads/movies/magazines too, I'm sure. But with both parents in the alliance, always living adjacent to alliance regs - her exposure to "beauty standards" would have been different than what we have on earth right now.

TL;DR - uniforms, short cropped or tightly worn up hairstyles, sparse makeup, and utility-forward clothing.

And I've just been reflecting on this, and how it influenced her own self-presentation. How she doesn't really identify with "femme" the way beauty ads portray it. And especially after completing her N7 training, she probably even goes in to formal events thinking "what should I wear if I might need to be up and running around at a moment's notice?" So, suits, mostly. Pants. Low-maintenance

Dresses? She does those, maybe. But probably only for Thane.

I have this really deep-seated headcanon for her to be inexperienced in relationships. She's never been "in love" before - and in fact she's like *this close* to being aromantic. She's definitely very gray-a. She's more motivated by her own goals and service than by romantic interests. She's slept with more people than she's "dated" because she doesn't equate sex with love, at least not right away.

Her past flings have said things like "you'd be so pretty if you grew your hair out" or other backhanded compliments that sort of say "you aren't good enough as you are." But she never felt inadequate, just miffed that people thought she couldn't be a woman if she didn't do specific feminine things.

Thane doesn't ask for her to be something she isn't, he just gives her free reign to do whatever - because no matter what happens, he gets to know the woman underneath her titles, and to him that's his great privilege.

So maybe she'll pick out a nice dress for dinner with him, just to see what it's like. Maybe she likes it, maybe she doesn't. But she feels safe to explore these new experiences with him.

Also, for funsies:

She's secretly always wanted a pair of cowboy boots

She's got a thing for women in uniform

Makeup is gender neutral to her

Anyway this has been a melatonin-fueled ramble about character things I think about with my braincells. Thank you for coming to my [laptop in b]ed talk

#zet vs 100days

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kikinom · 3 years

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Lost Lending, Chapter 1 - “Mortal Blood”

“You lost the book? How did you manage that? It’s heavy and gilded gold. A bit hard to misplace.” Serana said, laughing with disbelief.

“Yeah, yeah. Keep laughing. Very funny,” Duma replied, deadpan but with a slight smile at how Serana was laughing at Duma, mainly because he looked like a kicked puppy telling her it. “I honestly can’t remember what happened to it. I’m so sorry...” Duma trailed off. It was hard for everyone when they split. With Serana being called to finally tie up the loose ends of her fathers’ death and Cicero getting a letter from Nazir, everyone else split too. Duma had managed poorly working alone, feeling dazed and sad. He had a bad habit of forgetting things at inns he stayed at, including Serana’s gilded copy of Immortal Blood. “I’ll look for a new copy for you, there’s a large bookshop in Solitude.”

Duma was pulled out of his thoughts as Serana pulled him into a hug. He could feel her thin but muscular arms through his thick armor, comforting him.

“It’s okay, Duma. I have plenty of copies,” she said lovingly, a hand combing over the short underside of his hair.

He missed it, missed her, and returned the hug. It wasn’t a rare thing for Duma to be at Serana’s Castle, or for Serana to stop by the Proudspire Manor, but he always misses being by her side. She unwraps her arms from around him but stays close.

“The girls miss you, too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I get home and the girls seem more interested in asking about the next time Aunt Serana will be over instead of seeing me,” He says it with a smile, though. “Jordis and Livia also seem to like you, although it’s most likely how Livia likes any woman.” That line makes a soft blush crawl over Serana’s face.

“You really shouldn’t gossip about your house guards like that, friend. And, for your knowledge, I do know how she feels about my appearance. I’ve heard it’s similar to how you feel about it.” Serana grins up at Duma, and Duma suddenly wishes he was wearing his helmet again. She leans up and gives him a quick peck on the lips, and pats him on the ebony of his breastplate.

Serana’s amber eyes focus on something behind him. “Duma, I’d recommend going to save your friend. They seem like they are going to eat him alive.” The comment quickly turns Duma’s amber eyes to the long tables behind him, where some vampires are talking to Hadien. He’s backed up to a table, obviously not knowing how to handle the small cloud of vampires who are very interested in him. Duma can easily spot the nervous look on the nord’s face. He smiles, one last time at Serana before he goes to rescue his poor housecarl.

“Leave the poor boy alone, brothers and sisters. He’s not for eating.” The cloud disperses with a laugh, going back to what they were previously doing. Hadien quickly looks relieved, and stands up from where he was leaning back.

“Duma! What do you need, my thane?” Hadien’s blonde hair sticks to his sweaty forehead, even though the castle is freezing. He’s lightly shaken, brown eyes wide, but has a relieved smile on his lips. His usual mask is clutched in his hands, his hood off. He has a mole under his left eye, Duma notices for far from the first time.

“Come with me, Hadien. I need to get a drink before we leave.” Hadien shutters but follows Duma as he heads towards the dungeon. Hadien still isn’t used to the blood and gore of the adventurer life, but he’s learning. Being taken out of the safeness of Solitude to wandering the planes does that to a man, especially one following a man as trouble-prone as Duma.

Duma grabs a key from the dungeon overseer, and the two men descend the stairs to the dungeon. He hears Hadien put his mask back on to cover the stench from his nose. Mortals. Duma can’t imagine not soaking in the rotting smell of the dungeon, the stale blood, the whimpering of the cattle.

“You can look away, you know. You don’t need to watch me,” Duma reminds Hadien, not for the first time, “Unless you like the look of my teeth.” Duma says the end of the sentence with a grin, flashing his sharp teeth in the openmouthed smile. Hadien looks away, and Duma can almost imagine the blush spreading up to the man’s ears and down his chest.

Duma looks away from Hadien and towards the cattle. There’s a new man in the cell, a nondescript nord with short hair, obviously cut quickly before he was thrown in. He’s shaking and mumbling to himself, as most cattle do. Duma steps into the cell and sates his thirst

---

After goodbyes and well-wishes, Duma and Hadien get onto the small fishing boat to row back to the mainland. Duma’s redonned helmet protected him well from the biting cold of the open air. Hadien’s hood is pulled snugly over his head as he watches Duma row quickly. It’s always too cold on the water.

---

“Ah, it’s my love, come to visit,” Madesi says as Duma walks into his office. Madesi is working over his papers, counting gold coins and checking his books. Duma kisses his scaly forehead.

“How is the business, my dear? Going well?” Madesi just smiles up at Duma from his work. Madesi is dressed in fine clothes, settled perfectly in Solitude. He leans back in his chair slightly to press himself to Duma’s unarmored chest. Madesi flicks his tongue out of his lips to taste the air, and he shakes his head slightly.

“When is the last time you bathed, my love?” Madesi asks. Duma just shrugs and moves to wrap his arms around his husband. “No, Duma, don’t even think that. Bathe.” he scolds, and Duma leans down to kiss Madesi’s head once more.

“May I ask about our daughters, or will I be scolded into a bath once more?” Duma asks in a childish tone.

“Our daughters are growing well, Duma. They bicker, but when is it not with children. Jordis has been teaching them how to better hold the rare daggers you are always gifting them, and Livia has been teaching them how to craft candles. Now, is that enough, my love? You smell like a skeever.” Duma nods, and with one final kiss to the top of Madesi’s head, he exits the room and starts down the stairs.

On the middle floor, Duma greets Jordis and Livia, who are flirting. Well, Livia is flirting at Jordis, and Jordis is trying her best to keep watch. Duma catches Jordis’s eye and she smiles. “My thane! You went so quickly to bed last night I never got to properly greet you. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, Jordis. Hadien less so. He’s still breaking into the questing part of the adventuring life. He’s strong, but not as comfortable with the blood and guts of battle as he needs to be.”

“He’s always been a bit weak in the heart, my thane, but I love him like my own brother. Keep him safe for me.”

“I will, Jordis, although I doubt he would like hearing you call him weak of heart. And where is Hadien, now that we are talking about him? Did he go to see his mother yet?”

“No, my thane. He’s in the bath, he mentioned last night that he will see her tomorrow. Poor woman will twist his ear when she hears he didn’t leave to see her first thing.” Jordis says with a smile. They all know how Hadien’s mother can get when he doesn’t greet her the second he sets foot in Solitude.

“On Madesi’s request, I will join him. He said I smell like a skeever.” Livia and Jordis both chuckle at that, “Tell my daughters I have gifts when they get home?”

“Will do, my thane; more daggers?”

“They seem to enjoy them.”

With that, Livia seems to remember something. “Oh! My thane! Look at these!” She says excitedly, turning to show Duma a few candles. “The girls made these with me! Aren’t they wonderful?”

Duma grins at his daughters’ handiwork. “Amazing,” He replies, with a large grin. He nods his head at both of the women before turning back to the stairs and making his way down.

He can hear the water of the baths fountain as he descends the stairs, makes his way to the first door, and steps through the curtains. He can see Hadien already relaxing in the bath as he goes to undress. Duma folds his robe and sets it gently on the bench.

Duma unties the small leather band holding his hair up and shakes his head slightly, his greasy locks still sticking from being in the tie for so long. He steps into the water and Hadien finally looks up from where he’s relaxing. He feels Hadiens eyes quickly scrape over his body before he’s fully sitting down and Hadien diverts his eyes. The center fountain of the bath creates a calming noise. Duma wonders if Hadien’s blush is from the warm water or something else.

“Your mother is going to give you a talking for not going to see her last night,”

“Yeah…” Hadien mumbles before he slips deeper into the bath, submerging his mouth and bumping his foot to Dumas.

“We could go see her today, if you’d like?” Duma offers.

“Please let me rest a day first.” Hadien says, moving his mouth up again, “It’s my own death when she goes and talks my ear off for this,” Duma just nods at his words, and leans his head forwards to the water to wet his hair. It feels odd to finally have it down after so long of it being tied tight under his helmet.

“Tell me the truth, Hadien. Why are you so worried about seeing her? Is this because you were frightened by those four vampires?”

“Was it only four? I felt like at least twelve of them were surrounding me.”

“You are allowed to wait outside, Hadien. You don’t need to go in with me each time. I know you don’t like the smell.”

“Because it smells like rot and blood! And the cattle make me uncomfortable. I don’t like how they mumble. And all the vampires look at me in a predatory way. Not- not you, my thane, it’s just-”

“You really do not want to talk about your mother, do you Hadien?”

“I do not.”

~~~

(MASTERLIST)

#Lost Lending #bev.doc #skyrim fanfiction #if this is bad! oh well. i dont mind #okay 2 rb #if you hate this send me an anon saying you hate it #if you love it? come here i will give you a kiss #bev.txt

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tes-trash-blog · 4 years

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🌙 hmm... an age old question but opinion on the whole Imperials Vs Stormcloaks fiasco Skyrim tried to feed us?

*cracks neck*

Goodbye follower count, I’m going in!

I’m going to preface this with a confession: In my first ever playthrough of Skyrim (2014), I did side with the Imperials. On my second, I sided with the Stormcloaks. Since then, I have done three more playthroughs on the Stormcloak side, and three more on the Imperial side. In four more still my Dragonborn was neutral, slaying Alduin without ever taking a side. In my playthroughs, especially the ones after 2016, I’ve developed my own opinions about the Imperials and Stormcloaks alike.

In order to better articulate my opinion, we must first briefly examine four factors: the American landscape in which Skyrim was conceived, Skyrim itself and its portrayal of the Imperials and Stormcloaks (and the Thalmor), and Umberto Eco, the usage of terms like “fascism” and especially “Nazism” in American popular culture, and how this all relates to the Imperial/Stormcloak fiasco.

So let’s get started.

Part 1: Thanks, Obama.

In 2008, Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States. It was a landslide victory against Republican runner John McCain, a conserative who frequently brought up his service in the Vietnam War (and his time as a prisoner of war) during his campaign, as well as his years of service in political office. In a move to make his (very white, very male) campaign seem more inclusive in the face of the frontrunners of the Democratic campaign (Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama), he appointed Sarah Palin as his VP. She was the only conservative woman who agreed to be his running mate, as all three conservative women in the Senate already said no, and the Republicans couldn’t find a black conservative.

(I’m not making this up.)

Anyway, come 2008, the conservatives lose their goddamn minds because Bush’s reign of actual terror was over, a Black man is now President and Whiteness is in peril. This was before the term “triggered” became a popular sneer in the conservative dictionary, but “snowflake” was used a lot. Come 2009, the Tea Party emerges. And now we get to the crux of my, uh, observation.

For the young, uninitiated, or non-Americans who are thinking “What the fuck is wrong with America”, the Tea Party Movement was/is a rash of hardline rightwingers who, still licking their wounds from a sound beating by the Democrats in the 2008 election, sought to rebrand themselves. With some bootstrap lifting and millions of dollars in funding from media tycoons such as the Koch brothers, the Tea Party made its official debut in 2010 after the signing of the Affordable Healthcare Act. Their message was simple: It’s time to take America back from the lazy, the entitled, and the “uppity”. What was really just a rehash of a song and dance that’s been turning its ugly white head since at least 1964 gained something of a stranglehold on America, in spite of its relatively small size of active members. It hit all the notes: a populist movement rooted in the perceived threats to their faith, their culture, and their social and economic capital.

They also believed shit like this:

For instance, Tea Partiers are more likely than other conservatives to agree with statements such as “If blacks would only try harder they could be just as well off as whites,” and are more likely to disagree with statements like “Generations of slavery and discrimination have created conditions that make it difficult for blacks to work their way out of the lower class.” (Williamson, 34)

Like I said. Since 1964.

What made the Tea Party different from the other conservative temper tantrums was one thing: Internet access. All of a sudden, these angry white men had an outlet for voicing their rages, and an open recruiting forum for other malcontents and disaffected youths. I’m not implying the Tea Party had anything to do with Gamergate, nor that Gamergate had anything to do with the rise of the alt-right or whatever these tennybopper neo-Nazis are calling themselves now, but I am saying those circles at least touch in a Venn diagram.

“But tes-trash-blog! What do the machinations of American politics have to do with Elves?” you may ask. Well dear reader, this leads me to..

Part 2: Hey, you! You’re finally awake!

Skyrim was an overnight hit. On release, The Elder Scrolls 5 generated 450 million dollars on its opening weekend alone. This game sold for around 20 million copies, not including Special Edition, VR, or Switch, and continues to see an average of around 10,000 players a week 9 years later (Steamcharts).

And 20 million people see one thing first: A strong, noble Nord in captivity, telling you that you’re on your way to be executed by the Imperials, who are in bed with a scary, sneering bunch of High Elves dressed in black. 20 million people already were told who was the clear bad guy in this game, and it wasn’t the strong, noble Nord in captivity. I’ll be going into this more into Part 3, but suffice to say, the Imperials were already coded as Bad Guy by association. The Imperials decided to execute you, the player. They shot a man in the back because he ran from his own execution. He stole a horse, which was a crime punishable by death in those days. The game doesn’t tell you that part, and is content to say that Lokir was killed because he was in the same cart as the Stormcloaks.

Speaking of Imperials, the Third Empire is written as obtuse, corrupt, uncaring, and cruel. The Septim Dynasty is wrought with scandal and intrigue, plagued by conflict, and powerless to do anything about the Oblivion Crisis that almost ended the world. They flat out abandoned Morrowind and Summerset to better protect their own, offered no help during the Void Nights that destabilized the Khajiit, and worst of all, signed a treaty outlawing Talos worship. That is the crux on which the Stormcloak/Imperial conflict lies. These damned outsiders telling these humble Nords what to do and what not to do. They’re corrupt, lazy, and know nothing of the hardships these people endure, and now the nanny state Empire is telling them they don’t have the freedom to worship what they want? How dare they!

Going further, in the seat of Imperial power in Skyrim is none other than Jarl Elisif, a young widow who relies heavily on the advice of her (overwhelmingly male) thanes, stewards, and generals. She’s weak, thinks mostly of her dead husband, and is written as someone who overreacts to scenarios; the “legion of troops” to Wolfskull Cave over a farmer reporting strange noises, banning the Burning of King Olaf in the wake of her husband’s murder via Shout come to mind. Compare and contrast that to the seat of Stormcloak power, Windhelm. Ulfric spends his time pouring over the map of troop movements and discussing strategy when he’s not delivering his big damn “Why I Fight” speech. Elisif is weak, Ulfric is strong. The Jarl of Solitude is even told to tone it down during the armistice negotiations in Season Unending. She’s chastised by her own general. The first thing you see in Solitude is a man being executed for opening a gate. The first thing you see in Windhelm is two Nords harassing a Dark Elf woman and accusing her of being an Imperial spy.

Both are portrayed as horrific, but only one has bystanders decrying the acts of the offender. Only one has a relative in the crowd proclaim, “That’s my brother [they’re executing]!” The best you get with Suvaris is her confronting you about whether or not you “hate her kind”. Even a mouth breathing racist would be disinclined to say “yes” when confronted with the question of whether or not they’re racist, but that’s how the writers of Skyrim think racism works.

I acknowledge that this was an attempt at bothsidesism, but the handling was.. clumsy.

Part 3: Ur-Fascism, Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Bash The Stormcloaks

And now we move on to Umberto Eco, fiction writer, essayist, and writer of the famous essay Ur-Fascism. In short, Eco summarizes 14 separate properties of a fascist movement; it’s important to stress that this should not be treated as a checklist if a piece of media is fascist, or if a person is actually a Nazi, or to say “X is Bad Because Checklist”. It’s frankly impossible to even organize these points into a coherent system, as fascism is an ideology that is, by its nature, incoherent.

With that in mind, let’s run down the points:

1. “The Cult of Tradition”, characterized by cultural syncretism, even at the risk of internal contradiction. When all truth has already been revealed by Tradition, no new learning can occur, only further interpretation and refinement.

2. “The Rejection of Modernism”, which views the rationalistic development of Western culture since the Enlightenment as a descent into depravity. Eco distinguishes this from a rejection of superficial technological advancement, as many fascist regimes cite their industrial potency as proof of the vitality of their system.

3. “The Cult of Action for Action’s Sake”, which dictates that action is of value in itself, and should be taken without intellectual reflection. This, says Eco, is connected with anti-intellectualism and irrationalism, and often manifests in attacks on modern culture and science.

4. “Disagreement Is Treason” – Fascism devalues intellectual discourse and critical reasoning as barriers to action, as well as out of fear that such analysis will expose the contradictions embodied in a syncretistic faith.

5. “Fear of Difference", which fascism seeks to exploit and exacerbate, often in the form of racism or an appeal against foreigners and immigrants.

6. “Appeal to a Frustrated Middle Class”, fearing economic pressure from the demands and aspirations of lower social groups.

7. “Obsession with a Plot” and the hyping-up of an enemy threat. This often combines an appeal to xenophobia with a fear of disloyalty and sabotage from marginalized groups living within the society (such as the German elite’s ‘fear’ of the 1930s Jewish populace’s businesses and well-doings, or any anti-Semitic conspiracy ever).

8. Fascist societies rhetorically cast their enemies as “at the same time too strong and too weak.” On the one hand, fascists play up the power of certain disfavored elites to encourage in their followers a sense of grievance and humiliation. On the other hand, fascist leaders point to the decadence of those elites as proof of their ultimate feebleness in the face of an overwhelming popular will.

9. “Pacifism is Trafficking with the Enemy” because “Life is Permanent Warfare” – there must always be an enemy to fight. Both fascist Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini worked first to organize and clean up their respective countries and then build the war machines that they later intended to and did use, despite Germany being under restrictions of the Versailles treaty to NOT build a military force. This principle leads to a fundamental contradiction within fascism: the incompatibility of ultimate triumph with perpetual war.

10. “Contempt for the Weak”, which is uncomfortably married to a chauvinistic popular elitism, in which every member of society is superior to outsiders by virtue of belonging to the in-group. Eco sees in these attitudes the root of a deep tension in the fundamentally hierarchical structure of fascist polities, as they encourage leaders to despise their underlings, up to the ultimate Leader who holds the whole country in contempt for having allowed him to overtake it by force.

11. “Everybody is Educated to Become a Hero”, which leads to the embrace of a cult of death. As Eco observes, “[t]he Ur-Fascist hero is impatient to die. In his impatience, he more frequently sends other people to death.”

12. “Machismo”, which sublimates the difficult work of permanent war and heroism into the sexual sphere. Fascists thus hold “both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality.”

13. “Selective Populism” – The People, conceived monolithically, have a Common Will, distinct from and superior to the viewpoint of any individual. As no mass of people can ever be truly unanimous, the Leader holds himself out as the interpreter of the popular will (though truly he dictates it). Fascists use this concept to delegitimize democratic institutions they accuse of “no longer represent[ing] the Voice of the People.”

14. “Newspeak” – Fascism employs and promotes an impoverished vocabulary in order to limit critical reasoning.

I did copy and paste the list from Wikipedia, but you can read the full essay here. It’s 9 pages long. You can do it, I have faith in you.

You may notice that you can’t really shorthand these concepts, or at least not in an aesthetically pleasing way. However, you can point to the most infamous of fascist regimes and take their aesthetic instead. You see it in Star Wars with the Empire (hmm) and the First Order, in Star Trek with the Mirrorverse and the Cardassian Dominion (hmm), and in the.. Oh, it’s on the tip of my tongue..

Oh, yeah. The Thalmor. They dress in dark colors, are a foreign power trying to exert their influence on the downtrodden Nord, enact purges, and scream about Elven superiority. The Thalmor express every surface level perception of a Nazi in American popular culture. TVTropes has already pretty well covered this ground in their Video Games section of A Nazi By Any Other Name, so I won’t go too much into here seeing as I’m already at the 2000 word mark. Suffice to say, it’s hard to think Bethesda wasn’t trying to make the player associate the 4th Era Altmer with the 1930’s German.

And in doing so, they accidentally created a group that is.. Well, you’ve read the essay or at least the 14 points. Try and tell me how many of them don’t apply to Nordic culture. What grabs me the most are points 9, 11, and 13: life is a perpetual struggle in which you must emerge victorious, a culture of Heroes impatient to die in a glorious fashion, and the Common Will that is enacted and reinforced by one strongman leader. You see these elements in play in Nord culture, in Stormcloak ideology especially. I, for one, hear what Galmar really means when he says “We will make Skyrim beautiful again”. I hear the echoes in George W Bush’s speeches and McCain’s campaign when Ulfric talks of duty and service, of “fighting because Skyrim needs heroes, and there’s no one else but us.”

It’s less of a dog whistle and more of a foghorn if you ask me. And to go back to part 2, this is a message that 20 million played. Not all of them are Stormcloak stans, but that compelling message was still present. Americans love being a strongman hero in their media; we eat that shit up. The setup was enough: you’re a lone hero about to be executed by milquetoast Imperials and Nazi-coded Thalmor. The story was enough: a strong man rebels against a system gone awry, one that seeks to destroy his way of life.

It was enough to compel a “fashwave” artist to take on the monkier Stormcloak(Hann). It was enough that Skyrim was lauded as a “real” game instead of say, Depression Quest, and to justify ruining a game developer’s life over it.

It was enough that when Skyrim came out in 2011, the game did not do so well in Germany because of these elements, because the game was written for you to be sympathetic towards these very white, very blond and Ayran-coded Nords. I can’t speak for the popularity of the game now in Germany, but when I lived there, there were a few raised eyebrows among my age group about the message of the game.

I think about that a lot, especially when the tesblr discourse heats up about the Stormcloaks. I see how visibly upset people get when someone throws shade at Ulfric. The talk of “it’s just a video game” and “lul get triggered” starts to look less like passive dismissal and shoddy trolling and more a kind of funhouse mirror to how they really think.

I can’t lie, it reminds me so much of 2009, of these angry people screaming racial slurs on the Internet because there’s a Black president or posting sexist screeds because Michelle Obama wanted kids to have access to healthy meals. It reminds me of the kid in my sophomore class who said he was going to “take out” Obama on his inauguration day. He was 15 years old then. He’s a father now.

Hell, it reminds me of right now, of Republican Senators demanding civility and tone policing as they kowtow to an actual fascist. The Stormcloak in the Reach camp “had to do something” about the Empire telling him and his what to do, and the neighbor I used to dogsit for had to do something too. I don’t watch his dogs anymore. When I told him I wouldn’t, he tried to make himself the victim and say I was getting political about dog sitting. It’s just two dogs. It’s just a video game. All political messages are just imaginary, snowflake.

But it’s really not, is it now?

TL;DR and Sources

TL;DR: The imperials are portrayed as weak and effectual, as the bootlicker to the Thalmor, and the writers were so busy trying to make one side look bad and weak they inadvertently made actual fascists.

Even though this is pretty long, this really only scratches the surface of the.. Well, everything. In all honesty this is just a very condensed version of my opinion. Big shockeroo, there.

Do keep in mind that this isn’t a condemnation of Skyrim. Lord knows I love that game, or I wouldn’t have this blog. This also isn’t a damning of people who play the game and side with the Stormcloaks, or think Ulfric is hot, or don’t like the Thalmor or what have you. You do you, fam. You do you. This is my observation and opinion on one aspect of the game, just with some tasty sources to better paint a picture of where I personally formed my opinion.

This also isn’t to say that I’m trying to draw a 1:1 comparison between The Elder Scrolls and reality, or that Ulfric is obviously a McCain/Trump/Hitler expy, but Skyrim is, like all things, a product of the minds that created it. Skyrim didn’t happen in an apolitical vacuum, and apolitical stories about war simply do not exist. Anyone who tells you otherwise is simply reinforcing the status quo, and it is our responsibility as people who consume this media to question it, and that status quo they so dearly wish to hang on to.

Also, Elisif hot.

Sources:

Eco, Umberto. “Ur-Fascism”. The New York Review of Books. 1995. https://www.pegc.us/archive/Articles/eco_ur-fascism.pdf>

Williamson, Venssa, Skocpol, Theda and Coggin, John. “The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism”. Perspectives on Politics, Volume 9. March 2011. https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/williamson/files/tea_party_pop_0.pdf>

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Steamcharts.com https://steamcharts.com/app/72850>

Schreier, Jason. “Bethesda Ships 7M Skyrim, Earns About $450M”. Wired. November 16, 2011. https://www.wired.com/2011/11/skyrim-sales/>

Hann, Michael. “‘Fashwave” - synth music co-opted by the far right”. The Guardian. December 2014. https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/dec/14/fashwave-synth-music-co-opted-by-the-far-right>

#holy shit this got long #lore overanalysis #the trash talks

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harveywritings92 · 4 years

Text

Rings,amulets and misunderstandings: Rayya x Lydia

A one shot starring my male dragonborn an Orc-Nord named Alpin Blair and two of his housecarl Lydia and his steward Rayya. - Summary: Alpin and Rayya are in Windhelm for business and negotiations about allowing Argonian's into the city, the same time a traveling bazaar is in the area, The Dovahkiin can't help but notice his Steward sneaking glances at an amulet of Mara in one of the stands.

----------------------------------------

"Are you getting that for someone?" Alpin's voice caused Rayya to jump in surprise as she turned to look at the 6'7" man in all his steel plated armored glory, he loomed over her short frame intimidating any and all passersby, she couldn't see his eyes but knew he was looking at her amused, the redguard felt her cheeks burn when she realized she hasn't answered his question.

"N--No my thane, I was looking for...*grabs random potion.* This!" Alpin looks at the yellow-green bottle. "Rattles Anti-inflammatory balm?" the half nord read out loud sounding worried, Rayya grimaces in disgust and nearly dropping the bottle before putting it back on the stall the clerk looked at her unimpressed then blanched at something behind her.

Alpin took his helmet off so he could get a better look around the temporary market place, which also gave people a nice view of his orc heritage, his bottom fangs, He adjusted the mourner's cap on his head as his gray eyes eventually found their way back to his steward and the shivering elven clerk who pointed at Alpin terrified. "a-a Vam...a-va-vamp!" he stuttered out before the dragonborn frowned.

"A vampire? no, you're way off..." the clerk brows furrowed not understanding if this nord's not a vampire then what is he? Alpin answered "these are orc teeth my da's an orc." the orc-nord explained the clerk noticed the shape of Alpin's eyes, pointy ears and greenish tint to his pale skin. He seem to calm down but was still intimidated by the half-man towering size, and quickly went back to work, as the thane and steward talked.

"Come now, whose the lucky man or lady you have eyes for? you can tell me."

"It's no one my thane I was just browsing, seeing if any thing-"

"Is it Lydia?"

"....................Yes."

Poor Rayya if it were possible to blush and blanch all at once, the Redguard woman was certainly accomplishing it, she flinched expecting Alpin to be angry she expected to be stripped of her job and sent back to Hammerfell or killed where she stood! But to her confusion Alpin was talking to the clerk asking how much that amulet of Mara was? Confusing Rayya even more when he bought it and held it out to her. "Consider this my engagement gift." He said a small smile pulling at his lips the redguard was speechless as her dark eyes stared down at the amulet.

Alpin frowned at her reluctance. "What?...Did you what to buy this yourself or get her something else? Lydia likes the color green... I think I saw some dresses that would-" Rayya croaky voice suddenly cut him off. "No! I mean...I don't---" she started heaving causing Alpin to ask if the clerks had any water but the redguard finally got control and sputtered out.

"My Thane... I-isn't Lydia your wife?" the orc-nord looked at her flabbergasted he blinked one then twice before bursting out laughing. "No, Lydia's not my wife, whatever gave you that idea?" Alpin asked wiping a tear from his eye. Rayya was stunned when she heard this.

"B-b-but back at Falkreath I saw you at Lod’s making her a ring!"

"Oh that...Lydia has the same finger size as Dravynea that's my wife, it supposed be a surprise for our wedding anniversary."

"oh, so then you two aren't..."

"Nope, never have been, So do you still want this amulet or not?"

Rayya swallowed and took the amulet of Mara from Alpin then curiously asked where he saw those dresses?

A few days later back in Whiterun...

Dravynea and the other women were in the Bannered mare were giving Lydia a mead & wine filled pep-talk trying to help her gather some courage telling Rayya she in love with her! thought the redheaded nord was to shy to even form a proper sentence around the redguard beauty she fallen for!

Just then there was a knock at the front door Hulda rolled her eyes shouting. "Go away Mikael! I told you it's ladies only today!" the knocking persisted the inn keeper huffed and nodded at Aela who frowned and answered the door ready to give the annoying bard a piece of her mind! the huntress's eyes widened before a touched smile graced her lips.

In walked Olfina Gray-Mane both women were smiling as they moved aside to to reveal Alpin dressed in tavern clothes escorting a green veiled woman in a beautiful dress made of silks that was a lovely emerald green, complimenting the redguard woman's chestnut colored skin she almost resembled a bride as they made their way over to Lydia who eyes widen when she realized who the woman was. "R-Rayya?...um oh I you um, look nice?" the nord woman's face looked like a red mountain flower as she gave her crush a once over feeling her hear thumping in her chest.

Rayya was wear make-up instead of war paint that was probably Olfina's doing as Alpin wouldn't know how to put make-up on a lady to save his life! The dress was gorgeous and it was green Lydia's favorite color... was this surprise for her? the redhead's heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest-plate with how fast it was beating! Then Rayya slowly moved the bouquet she had away from her neck showing Lydia an amulet of Mara!

"that's a... *Points at amulet*

"Yes I wanted to get one, but I thought you were already spoken for."

"But I'm not marr-"

"I know that now, So do you feel the same?"

Lydia stared at Rayya before letting out a tiny. "I do.." before passing out, when Lydia woke up she saw blurry figures standing over. "Looks like she coming to!" a familiar voice stated as Lydia's vision cleared, she saw Jarl Balgruuf starring down at her concerned along with Dravynea,Alpin and...Lydia's face turned crimson when she realized she was laying on Rayya's lap!

She sat up only for her thane's wife to push her back down."Don't get up so fast that was nasty fall you took!" the dunmer chided using healing hands on the young nord woman's head. "Rayya?" Lydia asked still groggy "Yes love?" Rayya asked looking down at the redhead. "Did we get engaged?" this caused everyone with earshot to chuckle. "Yes, yes we did." The redguard woman confirmed Lydia smiled like a dope. "Yay!, H-Hey-Hey Rayya? I luv youuu!" the nord woman slurred. "Me too dear." Rayya gives Lydia kiss on the forehead.

end

#the elder scrolls skyrim #skyrim fanfiction #Lydia x Rayya #skyrim oc: Alpin Blair #Orc-nord dragonborn #dragonborn/dunmer #Dravynea the stoneweaver/dragonborn #TES Skyrim #Redguard x Nord #fem x fem

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